Tuesday, May 18, 2010

While I was busy with babies last week, the garden wasn't exactly resting on the couch, eating potato chips. My garden has good old-fashioned integrity, so it stayed home and put in an honest's weeks work. I was met with an overgrown welcoming of spinach, radishes, and green peas. Winter was soft and braised, but spring is fresh, crunchy and inviting. Who can resist working outside under blue skies, gentle breezes and smiling sunshine? West and I cut spinach this morning and gently washed the leaves. We picked and shelled the peas, then rinsed and trimmed the radishes. Sailor was sick in bed, missing some of spring, but we promised to save her some of the garden for when she is feeling better. When it comes to math papers and violin practice, my charges are perfectly happy miss out due to illness. But work in the garden is different, especially harvest work, since the fruits of your labors are figuratively and literally drooping from the vine. So sleep soundly Sailor; the spinach, and peas, and radishes-and yes, even the spring- will wait for you to get better. Before I left to babysit, I used some of our garden produce and a piece of soy-marinated grilled steak underneath one of my most favorite salad dressings. This one is a copycat version of the Benihana Japanese Steak House ginger spiked carrot dressing. It's ridiculously low in fat yet absolutely thick and dreamy. The ingredient list is long, but you just throw everything in the blender and give it a whirl, so it's actually fairly quick. The flavors are amazing and completely addictive. Try it on a brown rice salad, or as a dip for edamame. And have a wonderful, beautiful spring day. Carrot Ginger Dressing

From Joy of Cooking

Estimated Cost for dressing: $2.00 for 1 and 1/2 cups

1/2 cup coarsely chopped carrots

1/2 cup coarsely chopped celery

1/4 cup peanut or vegetable oil

2 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped onions

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons catsup

2 teaspoons fresh lemon jjuice

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 dashes hot pepper sauce

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth and thick.Next Up:

I must officially thank you Prudy dearest for watching all 5 of my kids while I was away on my wonderful trip. It was just so kind and an amazing of you to be willing to come to my home and take care of my big, young, and very chaotic family. Thank you for also taking care of all the cleaning, cooking, and laundry that comes along with that size of a group. You deserve something splendid and fantastic and I'm on the hunt for just such a thing. And yes you are going to have to accept it! I insist! Thank you again so much. Adam and I really had such a great time together and it would not have been possible with you. THANK YOU Prudy!

And of course this salad looks so delicious. I love all of these flavors. I can't wait to try this one.

Hold the phone. How'd you do those carrots in the salad? It looks like they are thick slices, with what, a vegetable peeler? I have a bunch of life-size carrots (not minis) and I hate hate hate chopping them into coins.

A winner! Mmmm....healthiest, tastiest meal I've made all week - absolutely divine! Great way to sneak more veggies into my 13-year old son, too. What do you put in your brown rice salad? I have enough left for another meal.

I was going to make this and decided to find it in my Joy of Cooking book instead of referencing your site, which is when I noticed that the book lists rice vinegar as one of the ingredients. Did you mean to leave it off of the recipe on your site. Just curious, since, coincidentally, I have none. By the way, I love your site! Thanks!!

We shouldn’t forget of course up to this day that Breitling is collectively with luxuries like the most expensive automotives symbolise one’s social and financial status. If somebody is looking at the Breitling Watches its like flashing your name all over.In this case let’s see what are the world most expensive Replica Breitling .It fetches world record price at auction $11,002,500 is the most ever paid for a pocket Replica Breitling Watches anywhere in the world.

Followers

About Me

I'm a fun-loving girl, given to flights of fancy and spontaneous purchases. But when it comes to cooking and eating, I'm a penny-pincher extraordinaire. I've got great recipes that'll save you big bucks. Stick around. It's gonna be fun!